The staffs at the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board and Career Centers are now working remotely, putting in place procedures to continue to serve their clients. Employment Counselors are reaching out to current customers to schedule appointments via e-mail or phone to help with resume writing and interview skills, relaying job opening information and connecting customers to online training opportunities and workshops. Counselors are able to continue to provide the one-to-one counseling experience that has previously proven effective, in the process giving hope to those who are particularly vulnerable during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Despite the economic turndown, many national chains are hiring, including Walmart, Amazon, and CVS. The Career Centers’ business team is developing local contacts for these larger chains while still working with regional employer contacts to make it easier for people to connect at a local level.
The Career Centers can also provide information on skills training options, and immediate hire for temporary and full-time positions that become available because of the crisis. The team is helping area businesses who have an urgent need, particularly for healthcare related jobs, and are facilitating the connection of people to those openings. Recent examples include Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco (now Northwell Health), Phelps Hospital in Tarrytown, as well as Garb-o-liner, a local New Rochelle business which is hiring to help with the manufacture of Personal Protection Equipment.
Employment counselors
Employment counselors are tapping their existing customer base to help fill those jobs quickly, but are also accepting new customers. With the Career Centers currently closed to the public, there are several ways to connect: through the Jobseekers portal, by calling (914) 813-6555 or by sending an e-mail to wpwbcc@gmail.com
NYS Department of Labor
Additionally, the New York State Department of Labor recently launched a new portal where job seekers can filter their search by job title and location making it easy to find jobs locally. Employers can also create an account and post openings at the New York State Department of Labor Career portal.
Employers
For employers looking for workers, the Business and Community Engagement Team is ready to help. To start an account and post a job, create an employer profile on the website listed above or send an e-mail Nahshon D. Halevi at nqhe@westchestergov.com or Charlene Manning at cqkc@westchestergov.com.
Career Pathways for career changes
For those considering a career change, the centers have developed career pathways in high-demand occupations like Healthcare, Biotech and Information Technology. Employment counselors are ready to review work experience to develop a retraining and employment strategy.
“At this time of uncertainty, our staff is working hard, using new avenues of communication to give people hope and a sense of direction so that they can get immediate relief in the form of a job, or, longer term, the necessary training to be able to hit the ground running when normal life resumes,” states Thom Kleiner, Director, Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board.
Watch County Executive George Latimer's live interview with Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board Director Thom Kleiner.
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